Issued: 7:04 AM PST Sunday, January 24, 2021
by Dennis D'Amico

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I

Weather Synopsis

A weak frontal system in NW flow aloft will stretch and fall apart today as it tries to advance inland from its current position along the coast. Light snow in advance of the front is currently overspreading the region, with light snow and low snow level expected to continue through mid-day. Forecast models are in better agreement that the associated surface low will hang back this afternoon around the Olympic Peninsula. There's higher confidence now that generally light snow showers will rotate into the central and south Washington Cascades with only scattered showers further north of the Mt Loop Hwy in the afternoon. Showers will be occasionally moderate for the southern volcanoes; Mt Rainier, Adams, Helens and Mt Hood. Water amounts and winds have been nudged down slightly versus yesterday's forecast. Snowfall amounts today should be 1-4", with 3-6" for the aforementioned volcanoes. 

A similar pattern will continue overnight regarding the quasi-stationary surface low and placement of steadier snow showers. The low will wash out on Monday and the trailing upper level trough will move over our region. With a cold and unstable air mass overhead, we can expect light and scattered showers for all areas. Snowfall totals should be even lighter Monday, generally an inch or less for the mountains. 

Weather Forecast

Olympics
West North
West Central
West South
Stevens Pass
Snoqualmie Pass
East North
East Central
East South
Mt. Hood
Use dropdown to select your zone
Sunday Cloudy with light snow becoming light snow showers mid-day.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow showers.
Sunday Cloudy with light snow becoming scattered light snow showers mid-day.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow showers.
Sunday Cloudy with light snow becoming scattered light snow showers mid-day.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow showers.
Sunday Cloudy with light snow developing this morning. Light snow showers this afternoon, occasionally moderate showers Paradise area.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow showers.
Sunday Cloudy with light snow becoming scattered light snow showers mid-day. Light east winds at Pass level.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow showers. Light east winds at Pass level.
Sunday Cloudy with light snow becoming light snow showers mid-day. Light east winds at Pass level.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow showers. Light east winds at Pass level.
Sunday Cloudy with light snow developing this morning. Isolated light snow showers this morning.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light scattered snow showers.
Sunday Cloudy with light snow developing this morning. Isolated light snow showers this morning.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light scattered snow showers.
Sunday Cloudy with light snow developing this morning. Isolated light snow showers this morning.
Sunday Night Cloudy with light snow showers.
Sunday Cloudy with light snow developing this morning. Light to occasionally moderate snow showers this afternoon.
Sunday Night Light to occasionally moderate snow showers.

Issued: 7:04 AM PST Sunday, January 24, 2021

Precipitation (in)

Sunday Sunday Night Monday
4 am - 4 pm 4 pm - 4 am 4 am - 4 pm
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Stevens Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Crystal Mt LT 0.25 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Paradise 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 LT 0.10
White Pass LT 0.25 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Washington Pass LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Mission Ridge LT 0.10 LT 0.10 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head LT 0.10 LT 0.10 LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. LT 0.10 LT 0.25 LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows 0.25 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Timberline 0.25 - 0.50 0.25 - 0.50 LT 0.10
Hurricane Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Baker Ski Area Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Mt. Loop - Barlow Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Stevens Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Snoqualmie Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Crystal Mt Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Paradise Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
White Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.25
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Washington Pass Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Mission Ridge Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday 0
Salmon la Sac - Gallagher Head Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.10
Monday LT 0.10
Tieton River - Darland Mt. Precipitation (in)
Sunday LT 0.10
Sunday Night LT 0.25
Monday LT 0.10
Mt Hood Meadows Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.25
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.10
Timberline Precipitation (in)
Sunday 0.25 - 0.50
Sunday Night 0.25 - 0.50
Monday LT 0.10

Issued: 7:04 AM PST Sunday, January 24, 2021

Snow Level (ft)

Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night Monday Morning Monday Afternoon
Olympics 2000' 2500' 1500' 1000' 1000' 1500'
West North 0 2000' 1000' 500' 1000' 1500'
West Central 500' 1500' 1000' 500' 1000' 1500'
West South 1000' 2000' 1000' 500' 1000' 1500'
Stevens Pass 0 1500' 500' 0 1000' 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass 500' 1500' 500' 500' 1000' 1500'
East North 0 1000' 500' 0 1000' 1500'
East Central 0 1000' 500' 0 500' 1000'
East South 0 1000' 500' 0 1000' 1500'
Mt. Hood 1500' 2000' 1500' 500' 1000' 1500'
Olympics Elevation
Sunday Morning 2000'
Sunday Afternoon 2500'
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night 1000'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
West North Elevation
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
West Central Elevation
Sunday Morning 500'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
West South Elevation
Sunday Morning 1000'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Sunday Evening 1000'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
Stevens Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night 0'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Sunday Morning 500'
Sunday Afternoon 1500'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
East North Elevation
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon 1000'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night 0'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
East Central Elevation
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon 1000'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night 0'
Monday Morning 500'
Monday Afternoon 1000'
East South Elevation
Sunday Morning 0'
Sunday Afternoon 1000'
Sunday Evening 500'
Sunday Night 0'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 1500'
Mt. Hood Elevation
Sunday Morning 1500'
Sunday Afternoon 2000'
Sunday Evening 1500'
Sunday Night 500'
Monday Morning 1000'
Monday Afternoon 1500'

Issued: 7:04 AM PST Sunday, January 24, 2021

5000' Temperatures (°F)

Sunday Sunday Night
Max / Min Max / Min
Olympics 27 / 22 23 / 18
West North 24 / 18 20 / 18
West Central 24 / 19 19 / 15
West South 25 / 20 23 / 20
Stevens Pass 23 / 18 17 / 15
Snoqualmie Pass 23 / 19 19 / 16
East North 20 / 15 15 / 12
East Central 22 / 19 18 / 14
East South 25 / 20 20 / 15
Mt. Hood 27 / 22 23 / 17
Olympics 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 27 / 22
Sunday Night 23 / 18
West North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 24 / 18
Sunday Night 20 / 18
West Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 24 / 19
Sunday Night 19 / 15
West South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 25 / 20
Sunday Night 23 / 20
Stevens Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 23 / 18
Sunday Night 17 / 15
Snoqualmie Pass 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 23 / 19
Sunday Night 19 / 16
East North 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 20 / 15
Sunday Night 15 / 12
East Central 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 22 / 19
Sunday Night 18 / 14
East South 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 25 / 20
Sunday Night 20 / 15
Mt. Hood 5000' Temperature Forecast
(Max / Min)
Sunday 27 / 22
Sunday Night 23 / 17

Issued: 7:04 AM PST Sunday, January 24, 2021

Ridgeline Winds (mph)

Sunday Morning Sunday Afternoon Sunday Evening Sunday Night
Olympics SSW 10-20 SSW 5-15 VAR 0-10 VAR 0-10
West North S 10-20 S 10-20 SSE 10-20 S 10-20
West Central SSW 5-15 SE 5-15 SE 5-15 SSE 5-15
West South SSW 5-15 SSW 10-20 SW 5-15 SW 10-20
Stevens Pass SW 0-10 ESE 0-10 SE 5-15 SE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass SW 0-10 ESE 5-15 SE 5-15 SE 5-15
East North WSW 5-15 VAR 0-10 S 0-10 S 0-10
East Central SW 5-15 SSW 0-10 SSW 5-15 SSW 10-20
East South SW 5-15 SSW 0-10 SSW 5-15 SSW 10-20
Mt. Hood SW 5-15 SW 5-15 W 10-20 W 15-25
Olympics Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SSW 10-20
Sunday Afternoon SSW 5-15
Sunday Evening VAR 0-10
Sunday Night VAR 0-10
West North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning S 10-20
Sunday Afternoon S 10-20
Sunday Evening SSE 10-20
Sunday Night S 10-20
West Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SSW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SE 5-15
Sunday Evening SE 5-15
Sunday Night SSE 5-15
West South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SSW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SSW 10-20
Sunday Evening SW 5-15
Sunday Night SW 10-20
Stevens Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SW 0-10
Sunday Afternoon ESE 0-10
Sunday Evening SE 5-15
Sunday Night SE 5-15
Snoqualmie Pass Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SW 0-10
Sunday Afternoon ESE 5-15
Sunday Evening SE 5-15
Sunday Night SE 5-15
East North Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning WSW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon VAR 0-10
Sunday Evening S 0-10
Sunday Night S 0-10
East Central Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SSW 0-10
Sunday Evening SSW 5-15
Sunday Night SSW 10-20
East South Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SSW 0-10
Sunday Evening SSW 5-15
Sunday Night SSW 10-20
Mt. Hood Ridgeline Winds (mph)
Sunday Morning SW 5-15
Sunday Afternoon SW 5-15
Sunday Evening W 10-20
Sunday Night W 15-25

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Precipitation I Snow Level I 5000' Temps I Ridgeline Winds I

Previous forecast from Jan 23, 2021

The NWAC program is administered by the USDA-Forest Service and operates from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Seattle. NWAC services are made possible by important collaboration and support from a wide variety of federal, state and private cooperators.

The 5000’ temperature forecast does not imply a trend over the 12 hr period and only represents the max and min temperatures within a 12 hr period in the zone. The 6-hr snow level forecast, the forecast discussion, and weather forecast sections may add detail regarding temperature trends.

The snow level forecast represents the general snow level over a 6 hr time period. Freezing levels are forecast when precipitation is not expected.

*Easterly or offshore flow is highlighted with an asterisk when we expect relatively cool east winds in the major Cascade Passes. Easterly flow will often lead to temperature inversions and is a key variable for forecasting precipitation type in the Cascade Passes. Strong easterly flow events can affect terrain on a more regional scale.

Ridgeline winds are the average wind speed and direction over a 6 hr time period.

The wind forecast represents an elevation range instead of a single elevation slice. The elevation range overlaps with the near and above treeline elevation bands in the avalanche forecast and differs per zone.

Wind direction indicates the direction the wind originates or comes from on the 16-point compass rose.

Water Equivalent (WE) is the liquid water equivalent of all precipitation types; rain, snow, ice pellets, etc., forecast to the hundredth of an inch at specific locations. To use WE as a proxy for snowfall amounts, start with a snow to water ratio of 10:1 (10 inches of snow = 1 inch WE). Temperatures at or near freezing will generally have a lower ratio (heavy wet snow) and very cold temperatures can have a much higher ratio (dry fluffy snow).

The label LT, is shorthand for ‘less than’.